University of Cincinnati
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

UC's Environmental Health and Safety department has issued advisory guidance on the reduction of hazardous waste. EHS implements a waste management program with the goal to reduce the amount of waste generated. EHS guidance covers waste audits, material substitution, equipment redeisgn, recycling and reuse, waste exchanges, detoxification, reduction of scale, purchasing criteria, control of reagents, preplanning of experiments, and planning for recapitalization of facilities.

Chemical wastes are identified as hazardous waste according to Federal EPA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations, user knowledge or safety data sheets. Hazardous waste are collected by the UC Office of Environmental Health & Safety and sent offsite to a licensed treatment storage and disposal facility for proper disposal. Specific waste streams such as fluorescent lights, batteries, aerosol canisters and mercury containing equipment area classified as Universal Waste and are collected and shipped for recycling at a licensed facility.

Environmental Health and Safety requires all departments generating chemical or infectious waste to develop a Chemical Hygiene Plan in consultation with EHS staff. EHS responds to all hazardous materials incidents.

There have been no significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years at the University. The was one insignificant hazardous material release incident during last three years involving a soil excavation on a construction site that broke a fuel line – the contractor immediately stopped operations and plugged the leak. The fuel quantity released was 2 to 4 gallons of fuel oil, the contaminated soil was removed, no notification was required but the Cincinnati Fire Department was notified.

The University employs the On-Site chemical inventory tracking system CISPro that is capable of managing the reuse of laboratory chemicals. However, there is limited use of this system function since almost all the researchers only trust the integrity of unopened chemical containers and opened containers are usually removed and disposed of by the various Departments before the materials are posted.

The UC Surplus Management group has had in place since FY08 a detailed program for the handling of e-waste through the use of external vendors. This process begins with a UC department submitting a downloadable, electronic 'SE' (surplus equipment) request form. Once the SE request form is received and reviewed, it is forwarded to UC Moving Services for safe pick-up and delivery to Surplus Management. Upon arrival at Surplus Management, the contents of each request are verified and a determination is made as to the correct handling and routing needed to comply with Information Security, Radiation Safety and Environmental Health & Safety guidelines. Once e-waste items have been separated from other surplus, they are broken down again into smaller groups based on type. For example, all computer monitors that are unusable are secured and packaged in preparation for shipment to the vendor that has been approved for secure, environmentally correct destruction of that type of item (monitors are handled cooperatively with EH&S). The same process is used for all other varieties or e-waste including computers, printers, scanners, copiers, network and telecommunications equipment, etc. This process in continually expanding and now includes the secure handling of smaller items such as batteries and toner cartridges. All information regarding the SE Request process can be found at the included link. Please take note of the section entitled 'Additional Special Handling Required' as it addresses aspects of keeping UC employees who handle and transport equipment safe. All electronic waste is disposed of centrally by UC Surplus Management. Appropriately certified vendors are used to ensure electronic waste is recycled in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

The contractor that recycles the material is not certified, but their outbound facilitators are certified under the responsible recycling (R2) standards.

https://www.uc.edu/about/admin-finance/facilities-management/recycling.html
https://www.rumpke.com/for-your-business/recycling-options/e-waste

https://www.uc.edu/about/admin-finance/planning-design-construction/sustainability/campus-initiatives/waste-diversion.html

http://www.ehs.uc.edu/mission.asp